Wagner comment: Don’t let them bring guns on us – Haruna Iddirisu to Akufo-Addo
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has condemned President Akufo-Addo’s comment In Washington alleging a Russian mercenary group, Wagner has been operating near the Ghana-Burkina Faso common border.
He was addressing the 10th National Delegates Congress of the main opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress(NDC) in Accra on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Mr Iddrisu said the president’s comment has the potential to jeopardise Ghana’s security.
“As we address this Congress, President Akufo-Addo has not only failed by creating an economic mess, he has also gone ahead to create what you call a foreign policy crisis.
According to the Minority Leader, the President who had previously served as a Foreign Affairs and Attorney General ought not to be making such “unprofessional” comments.
“For those who listened to him, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, former Attorney General he simply failed to momentarily have impulse control and to ensure a balance between foreign policy and the security of our state as he openly condemned Burkina Faso and mentioned the Wagner group of Russia,” he said.
He indicated that, he will expect a detailed briefing on the matter soon.
“I have information that our Ranking Member of the Foreigner Affairs Committee and members will ask for a detailed briefing to Parliament on this reckless, irresponsible and unprofessional statement by the President of our Republic, he cannot provide us with food, he should not let them bring guns on us as a country,” he chastised.
President Akufo-Addo expressed concerns about a supposed Russian mercenary activities on Ghana’s northern border with Burkina Faso.
He alleged this at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, during a meeting with United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
According to the President, the military government of Burkina Faso had hired Russian mercenaries, the Wagner Group, to help fight an insurgency in their country while allocating a mine to pay them.
“Today, Russian mercenaries are on our northern border. Burkina Faso has now entered into an arrangement to go along with Mali in employing the Wagner forces there.
“I believe a mine in southern Burkina has been allocated to them as a form of payment for their services. Prime Minister of Burkina Faso in the last 10 days has been in Moscow. And to have them operating on our northern border, it is particularly distressing for us in Ghana,” the president said.
This statement led Burkina Faso to recall its ambassador to Ghana for consultation and summoned Ghana’s Ambassador for explanation on Friday.